Voice Your Support for Threatened Salmon & Steelhead
|
Speak up for salmon & steelhead today! You can use your voice to improve protections for endangered native fish affected by hydropower operations on the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
There is now a public comment period open for a draft “Fish & Wildlife Program”, a five-year regional plan from the Northwest Power & Conservation Council (NPCC). With the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement abandoned and continued efforts to weaken the Endangered Species Act, the 2026 Fish & Wildlife Program represents a pathway to lessen further harm to fish from dam operations in the Columbia and Snake rivers and make actionable progress towards recovery goals. |
A male coho salmon swimming along a riverbed in the Columbia-Snake River Basin.
Photo courtesy of Bureau of Land Management, Oregon & Washington. |
Alongside our partners at Save Our Wild Salmon and many others, we are spreading the word to get as much participation as possible! There are two ways to make your voice heard during this process:
- Submit a comment online before March 2nd (more info here!)
- Attend and/or testify at the upcoming online hearing on February 24th (more info here!)
Key points to advocate for:
- Elevated “spill” over the dams through August 31 to protect out-migrating juvenile salmon and steelhead.
- Accountability for Bonneville Power Administration to achieve Program goals and its legal obligation to protect and enhance all fisheries impacted by the hydropower system.
- Acknowledge Lower Snake River Dam breaching as a necessary measure to achieve the Council’s 5 million fish goal.
Stop the Chehalis Mega-Dam
|
Rainbow Falls of the Chehalis River is a traditional harvesting site for local Tribes and is located downstream of the proposed dam site.
Photos by Nick Basaraba. |
Flooding is one of the most serious challenges facing communities in the Chehalis River Basin, and climate change is increasing both the frequency and intensity of these events. Impacted communities need solutions that will provide real, lasting protection.
Recently, the Washington Department of Ecology released a new Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) regarding a significantly expanded dam proposal on the upper Chehalis River.
To read the full analysis statement and summary, click here: https://ecology.wa.gov/ecologys-work-near-you/river-basins-groundwater/chehalis-basin/chehalis-flood-reduction-eis
Recently, the Washington Department of Ecology released a new Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) regarding a significantly expanded dam proposal on the upper Chehalis River.
To read the full analysis statement and summary, click here: https://ecology.wa.gov/ecologys-work-near-you/river-basins-groundwater/chehalis-basin/chehalis-flood-reduction-eis
The dam proposal is often described as a "flood-protection" solution, however, much of Ecology's analysis found that “constructing and operating the flow-through dam and temporary reservoir would significantly and negatively impact fish and wildlife as well as aquatic and land habitats, recreation, earth, water, transportation, wetlands, land use, Tribal resources, cultural resources, environmental health and safety, environmental justice, and public services and utilities”.
The new dam design is far larger than originally planned, requiring dramatically more concrete and infrastructure. Estimated costs range from $1.3–$2.3 billion, with no clear funding plan and no accounting for long-term operations, maintenance, or lifecycle costs. The proposed site presents unresolved geotechnical challenges, including fractured bedrock, landslide risk, and potential faulting. Additionally, the DEIS raises concerns about "significant and unavoidable” impacts to salmon runs, water quality, and treaty-protected Tribal rights. Construction would require extensive dewatering of the river, placing additional stress on already vulnerable fish populations.
Ecology’s analysis tells us that this proposed “Flood Retention Expandable, or FRE” mega-dam would come with enormous costs and irreversible impacts, while offering only limited protection. Meanwhile, other approaches — a "Local Actions Non-Dam Alternative" approach based on proven methodology is already being developed but is not being prioritized — can be implemented sooner and provide reliable protection across the basin. Communities in the Chehalis Basin deserve flood solutions that are proven, effective, and timely.
The new dam design is far larger than originally planned, requiring dramatically more concrete and infrastructure. Estimated costs range from $1.3–$2.3 billion, with no clear funding plan and no accounting for long-term operations, maintenance, or lifecycle costs. The proposed site presents unresolved geotechnical challenges, including fractured bedrock, landslide risk, and potential faulting. Additionally, the DEIS raises concerns about "significant and unavoidable” impacts to salmon runs, water quality, and treaty-protected Tribal rights. Construction would require extensive dewatering of the river, placing additional stress on already vulnerable fish populations.
Ecology’s analysis tells us that this proposed “Flood Retention Expandable, or FRE” mega-dam would come with enormous costs and irreversible impacts, while offering only limited protection. Meanwhile, other approaches — a "Local Actions Non-Dam Alternative" approach based on proven methodology is already being developed but is not being prioritized — can be implemented sooner and provide reliable protection across the basin. Communities in the Chehalis Basin deserve flood solutions that are proven, effective, and timely.
|
Public input is an important part of this process. You can submit written comments to the Department of Ecology online or by mail. All comments will be heard equally. The deadline to submit a comment is February 4th, 2026.
Take action by submitting a comment today! Click the button below, or the following link: https://ecology.wa.gov/events/sea/chehalis-eis/chehalis-eis-2025/chehalis-river-basin-sepa-revised-deis-public-comment |
Tips on making a comment:
- You don't need to be a river expert to submit a comment! No matter your level of knowledge, the Department of Ecology should hear from all of us.
- If you have particular expertise or interest in a specific area, such as environmental effects, tribal treaty rights and cultural resources, or downstream community and recreational effects, you may be able to provide comments that the Department of Ecology won't get anywhere else. The more specific, factual material in the record, the better.
- Stay away from pre-written, copy & paste templates — these comments will only count once. If you need any assistance with your comments, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected].
For more information on this issue, please see our articles in Spring and Fall 2025 editions of Free Flow.
Support 1.25% for Wildlife
Oregon is home to an incredible diversity of native plants, wildlife, and the habitats that support them. Yet many species are being pushed to extinction by habitat loss, climate change, and human-cased pressures. Without long-term, reliable funding to support their recovery, we risk losing them forever.
This proposal would raise the statewide lodging tax (TLT) from 1.5% to 2.75%. The funds raised by the tax will go directly to imperiled fish, wildlife, and habitat recovery efforts.
Even with this increase, Oregon would still have the 3rd lowest statewide tourism tax in the country — but with nearly 300 species at an elevated risk of extinction and 11 habitats of greatest conservation need, these additional investments would be life-saving.
By adding your voice to the growing community of wildlife supporters, you help move the needle on their opinion. Sign the petition today!
This proposal would raise the statewide lodging tax (TLT) from 1.5% to 2.75%. The funds raised by the tax will go directly to imperiled fish, wildlife, and habitat recovery efforts.
Even with this increase, Oregon would still have the 3rd lowest statewide tourism tax in the country — but with nearly 300 species at an elevated risk of extinction and 11 habitats of greatest conservation need, these additional investments would be life-saving.
By adding your voice to the growing community of wildlife supporters, you help move the needle on their opinion. Sign the petition today!
Urge your Senators & Representatives to uphold treaty rights and protect the Salish Sea and Columbia-Snake River Basin salmon and orcas from extinction.
Nearly 170 years ago the United States government signed treaties with Northwest Native Tribes, guaranteeing these sovereign Nations the right to fish for salmon at their usual and accustomed fishing grounds. By pushing salmon to the brink of extinction, we have not lived up to the promises of those treaties.
Urge your policymakers to recommit to upholding treaty rights and support tribal leadership in developing comprehensive solutions in the Salish Sea and the Columbia-Snake River Basin to protect salmon and orcas from extinction.
Urge your policymakers to recommit to upholding treaty rights and support tribal leadership in developing comprehensive solutions in the Salish Sea and the Columbia-Snake River Basin to protect salmon and orcas from extinction.
